Church Cottage, Elham

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Church Cottage - GradeIII Listed

This house stands against the old churchyard wall, and on a pathway which once led to the priest's door.

It is listed as Grade III, 17th century building, but an examination shows that it incorporates parts of the timber framing of a much older house, believed to have been a medieval priest's house.

Before the Dissolution, Elham Church employed a much larger staff than at present, there being, besides the vicar, up to three chaplains, a Parish Clerk, and an Assistant Clerk.

Old records show that there were in the Church no fewer than seven altars, and upwards of fourteen lights, and that there were more services than now.

The remains of the Priest House may be seen encased in brick, inside the taller part of Church Cottage. This older house had two rooms only, one above the other, with a stone cellar beneath. The cellar is still there, and stone steps in the present kitchen lead up to a sitting room, or "parlour" above. On the top floor is a bedroom, or "solar", where most of the timber-framing may be seen, and if one notices the ancient floor-boards here, they are seen to change direction at each end of the room, indicating that underneath there are still two "dragon beams", which once allowed for an overhang on three sides. Above the solar, the timbering of the medieval roof still survives, and may be seen from inside the later roof, at the rear.

The old timbered house is not later than the 15th century, and may be earlier. It must have presented an exceedingly attractive appearance, with its black and white timbering, and with its overhangs. The house was enlarged and altered very much to its present state in the 18th century.

The former gateway in the old churchyard wall, which once lead to the priest's door in the chancel, is now blocked.

After the Reformation, when the Church in England altered its rules, and priests were allowed to marry, such limited accommodation was no longer acceptable to them, and the small Priest Houses were no longer used by the clergy.
(Information from - Elham a Village Study.1968)

Page last updated 22 /08/2006